Where there is love there is life--Mahatma Gandhi

Wishing a very Happy Lunar New Year and Beautiful Valentine's Day to all friends around the world. Our friendship and love has continued to grow stronger through the years. -- Friday Reflections Team

Story Line: For this special week here are two stories of True Friendship and Unconditional Love. --from my collections through the years

1. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all days of my life.

A story of true love-  I read this story over twenty years ago in a letter from Fort Worth Texas to Ann Landers.

Dear Ann: I am going to tell you about a love story that I witness everytime I go to the nursing home to see my husband, who has Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunatlely, I know firsthand how this terrible illness affects family members, but I would like the world to know what love really is.

I see a man who, I understand, has spent past eight years caring for his wife, who has Alzheimer's. They have been married over 50 years.He cooks and feeds her every bite of food she eats. He has bathed her and dressed her everyday all these years. They have no other family. She lost a baby at birth and they never had any more children. I cannot describe the tenderness and love that man shows for his wife. She is unable to recognize anyone, including him. The only thing she shows interest in are two baby dolls. They are never out of her hands.

I observed him when I parked my car beside his the other day. He sat in his old pickup truck for a few minutes, then he patted down what little hair he had, straightened the thread-bare collar of his shirt and looked in the mirror for the final check before going to see his wife. It was as if he were courting her. They have been partners all these years and seen each other under all kinds of circumstances, yet he carefully groomed himelf before he called on his wife, who wouldn't even know him. 

This is an example of true love the world needs today.  -- Fort Worth

2. and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death takes us apart.

A Terminal Cancer Diagnosis Didn't Keep These High School Sweethearts from Getting Married- by Ashley Oerman In Women's Health Magazine- MAY 14, 2015.

Not all love stories end with a happily-ever-after of growing old together and loads of grandkids—but that doesn't make them any less incredible. That's especially true for Frances Chen and Shalin Shah, who got hitched late last month after Shalin was diagnosed with stage IV synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer that has affected his brain, lungs, and spinal cord, according to an article he wrote for the Huffington Post.

Long before the 22-year-olds said "I do," they were making high school and college memories together. The pair met in 11th-grade Spanish class and began dating their senior year of high school.... More of this touching story of unconditional love and true friendship  in the following link. 

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19921712/shalin-shah-and-frances-chen-wedding/

Reflection: Whenever I have come across inspiring stories like these, I have treasured them, learnt from them and shared them. No matter what field of endeavour one is in; the matters of the heart (emotions, connections, love) have been very important to a person. Andy Grove, a brilliant technologist, highly driven results oriented boss and the legendary CEO, whose microchips changed the world, once said in his speech: Joining Intel was the second best decision I made in life, the first one was marrying the woman who became my wife.

Our Good Fortune or Blessings that so many people we have met in this journey; from childhood, schools, workplaces of last forty years, through Friday Reflections and our travels have maintained friendship through the years. To all of You and new friends to be: Wish You a very Happy Lunar Year and wonderful Valentine's Day.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Carol]

Thanks for lovely reminder. Blessings to all for the beginning of a fresh and God willing, a better, loving lunar new year of the Ox!

[BHSC]

Beautiful reflections, perfect for this holiday.

Thank you for sharing!

[Leigh and George Brecht]

Thank you for sharing, Anand. These wonderful stories are so encouraging in these difficult times. Happy Valentines Day to you and your sweetie!
Leigh and George

[Shardamandir Friend]

There are so many shades of love...just have to feel it...Very touching stories.

[Mina]

thanks for the touching love stories. Both are beautiful and bittersweet and memorable.